Government

With his hand on a Bible held by three of his grandchildren, John Howard was sworn in as Lancaster’s mayor Monday night at city hall.
Howard, the longest-serving member of Lancaster City Council, was elected Feb. 23 to fill the unexpired term of Joe Shaw, who died last November. Shaw’s widow, Charlotte, who had endorsed Howard for the job, attended the ceremony.

Months after local officials dissolved their relationship with the Lancaster County Economic Development Corp., plans are moving forward with the search for a director for Lancaster County’s new in-house department.
County Administrator Steve Willis says the county has hired Texas-based executive recruitment firm Waters & Co. to identify top candidates for the new position. The county had previously put the word out through local newspapers and economic development association websites, but felt a professional firm could help hasten the process.

A third candidate has entered the fray in the already crowded field for Lancaster County Council’s District 1 seat.
Van Wyck resident Terry Graham, owner of wedding venue and strawberry farm The Ivy Place, announced Thursday his intention to run for the seat being vacated by two-term Councilman Larry McCullough.

Fran Person, a former aide to Vice President Joe Biden who once played on the Gamecocks’ offensive line, will challenge Rep. Mick Mulvaney for the 5th District congressional seat.
The 33-year-old Tega Cay Democrat announced his candidacy Monday in a YouTube video, saying he would work to improve education, fix the nation’s infrastructure and end the federal sequestration budget cuts.
The teamwork needed to get things accomplished, he said, has been lost in Washington.

Two terms are enough for Lancaster County Councilman Larry McCullough, who announced this week he would not run again for his seat.
McCullough, who was elected in 2008 and served as council chairman for two years until 2015, represents District 1 in the county’s Panhandle. He is the second county council member this month to announce he wasn’t running. Council Chairman Bob Bundy revealed in early February that his first term would also be his last.

County officials are mulling whether to use $500,000 in proceeds from the sale of a county building to help construct an EMS training center.
Lancaster County Council considered a resolution Monday night, Feb. 22, to earmark money from the sale of the former Wamsutta building at 3888 Chester Highway for use in developing a “suitable training facility” for Lancaster County EMS.

◆ Age: 52.
◆ Contact information: AltheresaforMayor@gmail.com.
◆ Family: Husband of 29 years, Bishop Eddie Howard, a son, three daughters and two grandchildren.
◆ Education: Lancaster High School graduate (1981); attended Carolina School of Broadcasting; bachelor’s degree in theology and currently working on master’s degree.
◆ Occupation: Church pastor and overseer; veteran radio broadcaster (formerly of WPEG and WGIV).

◆ Age: 28.
◆ Contact information: garrett@houseyourcredit.com/ (803) 577-1086.
◆ Family: Wife, Whitney, one son and one daughter.
◆ Education: Two years college.
◆ Occupation: Property manager/insurance agent HYA.
◆ Civic/volunteer involvement: Youth leader at Second Baptist Church, local youth sports coach, closet ministry leadership team at Second Baptist Church.
◆ Political/job experience: No response.
◆ What are the three most important issues the city faces in the next two years?